Glove for drying hair (EHO 09204)

ABSTRACT

A glove to be worn by a hairdresser during a hair drying operation. The glove is made from a hydrophilic material, for instance a single layer of a micro fibre material which has a high affinity for moisture. The material has less affinity (less oleophilic) for the treatment and styling materials usually applied to the hair during a washing operation. The hairdresser or the wearer of the glove contacts the wet hair and repeatedly (with the glove(s)) during a hair drying operation in the absence of any additional heat and is fully aware of the degree to which the wet hair has been dried because the user&#39;s hand is not shielded by any intermediate material between the hydrophilic material used in the construction of the glove and which dries the hair. Because of this, the user is able to tell how the drying operation is progressing. 
     Because of the cut of the gloves, the gloves may be interchanged on the hands of the wearer to yield a second pair of unused surfaces for drying the wetted hair. The drying operation is able to begin all over again.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the drying (and at the same time, styling) of human hair. Hair has been styled while drying in a number of ways since the beginning of time. Styling changes have dictated that the wet hair be treated in different manners when drying to achieve the desired setting result. Originally, it was natural to wash the hair and then dry it by allowing the hair to hang in a natural manner. Sometimes setting agents were brushed into the drying hair so as to set the hair during a drying operation.

As time passed, the hair was dried mechanically by brushing towels over the hair until it was somewhat dried, and finally, the hair which was originally wet was partially dried by the toweling it, and subsequently the passage of hot air over the partially dried hair finished the task. The hot air was usually obtained by the passage of cold air through an electrical appliance which heated the cold air and directed it onto the hair to be dried.

The generation of “Frizz” is substantially reduced by this invention. Most persons generate frizz (which is generally controlled) unbeknowingly because it is part of the hair. If the hair strand is magnified enough it will appear as a central shaft surrounded by projectiles protruding therefrom at frequent intervals. When the projectiles do not lie down against the cental shaft this is loosely referred to as a “frizzing” problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

I have found that I am able to dry human hair very effectively in less time and in the absence of any other heating device by using a selected material which is worn like a glove. The glove which is made from the selected material contacts the wet hair which is “scrunched” (gathered and squeezed) until the hair is sufficiently dried.

The less the drying time means that there is less chance of damaging the hair during the drying process.

This invention relates to a glove which is superior for drying of wet human hair and which I use to dry the hair of clients. This is a material, woven from a monofilament thread selected from the following:

(a) A hydrophilic micro fibre material comprising a single layer of a micro fibre substance comprising a single filament material DTY 150/288.

Usually some setting agents are added to the washing water to assist in the setting and styling of the hair as it is drying. The agents are generally of an oily nature and may be materials of a higher molecular structure than water agents. Sometimes a scented material is added to the setting material so that some fragrance is added to the hair as it was drying. It is important not to remove those agents while the drying operation progresses.

This invention relates to a glove (particularly constructed) for drying wet hair of a person, without assistance of any other device whatsoever. By the judicious selection of a glove material which absorbs moisture but not the styling materials previously applied to the hair undergoing drying, the glove is able to dry the hair in a remarkably short time and yet not remove the styling material previously applied to the hair.

The material comprising the drying glove is fundamentally a monofilament type of material comprising a single layer of a micro fibre substance (with a high degree of hydrophilic behavior).

The material selected is highly hydrophilic and tends not to be oleophilic. This thread is generally spun into a yarn which is made into a knitted fabric so as to present a large drying surface for exposure to the hair undergoing drying, similar to the construction of a terry cloth material if it were to be employed to dry the hair.

The material is then cut into a glove shaped configurations (usually much larger than the hand to which it is to be fitted) and two such pieces of cutout material are subsequently joined together at their edges to form a glove shaped article which is now ready for use in the drying of human hair.

The use of a non-absorbent inner layer to protect the hand of the user (as seen in other prior art inventions) is deemed to be a retrograde step in the glove construction of this invention because it tends to mask the drying process as determined by the person wearing the glove.

The selection of the material comprising the glove is most critical, in that the material is selected to have the quality to absorb moisture (hydrophillic), while at the same time the material must not be oleophilic so as not to absorb the styling constituents previously applied to the hair for setting purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a single fibre of the micro fibre material used for this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a resulting fabric made from many single fibres (such as shown in FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a glove made from the material of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention provides a method of styling the hair with a glove manufactured from a selected monofilament (micro fibre) material (which is extremely hydrophilic) and is selected from the group comprising 100% polyester monofilament DTY 150/228.

This material is fabricated into a homogeneous single layered material which is subsequently cut or otherwise formed into a “drying” glove.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a single fibre 10 is extruded through a spinnerette nozzle to increase the surface area of the fibre thereof subsequently knitted into the absorbent drying material is shown which will subsequently knitted into a suitable homogeneous material 12 shown in FIG. 2. The material 12 is composed of many fibres 10. The increase in surface area is necessary to make the resulting material more hydrophilic.

Finally the material 12 is cut into glove-shaped pieces and sewn together or otherwise joined at their outer edges to form a glove 14. This is the final end product which is used to dry (and simultaneously style) the hair.

In using the glove as shown in FIG. 3, two such gloves 14 are provided and the wet hair (about to be dried) by gloves 14 which are worn by the user. The wet hair may then be “scrunched” (gathered and squeezed) by the gloved hand(s) bearing the moisture absorbent material until the hair is deemed to be sufficiently “dry” to permit the customer to resume the his/her normal duties.

If the portion of the glove which was previously exposed to the wet hair becomes saturated and wet, it is possible to exchange the gloves on the hands of the wearer so that the material that was situated at the back of the hand is now at the front of the hand and the hair drying operation may be resumed.

The preferred material is a single layer of the miro fibre material which is in contact with no other material(s) which might affect the rate of drying. This is in direct contrast to other prior art references which describe gloves which are provided with inner protective liners for protection of the hands of the user during the high heat of the drying operation.

It is important that the wearer of the moisture absorbing gloves is able to sense when the hair drying operation is complete, thus the gloves have no lining etc. to shield the hands from the moisture absorbing material.

It cannot be emphasized too strongly that the glove previously described is a product of the “green” revolution, and as such is able to accomplish drying of the human hair in the absence of any assistance from a hair heating device. Most of the “prior art” devices will be seen to carry out their mission with the use of some external heating device such as a conventional hair dryer and it will be seen in most of the references that “time” is mentioned as being important to the user.

The hair is never heated during a drying operation and thus there is no possibility that the hair will be damaged by the application of heat in a drying operation.

The reduction in drying time means that there is less chance of damage to the hair and there is less friction on the hair fibres resulting in less generation of frizz. The glove fibre tends to smooth the cuticle of the hair and thus the appearance of a ruffled look is avoided.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of one skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefor, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that the modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the dependent claims. 

1. A hair drying and styling glove comprising a monofilament material selected from the following: (a) A hydrophilic micro fibre material selected from the following group: a 100% polyester single filament material DTY 150/288,
 2. A material as claimed in claim 1 in which said material is hydrophilic and is not oleophilic.
 3. A hair drying and styling glove comprising a material manufactured from a monofilament thread woven together to form said material, (a) a first side of said glove being cut out of said material so that it generally conforms to the shape of the hand of the user, (b) and a second side of said glove which is of the same shape as said first side, (c) joining said first and second sides together at the edge thereof to form a hollow glove interior, (d) grasping the wet hair of a person who recently washed said hair with said glove, (e) drying said hair by repeatedly contacting said hair with said glove.
 4. A material as claimed in claim 3 in which said material is hydrophillic and is not oleophilic.
 5. A method of drying and styling hair comprising grasping the wetted hair on a human head with at least one glove and which is worn on the hand of the person drying the wetted hair by repeatedly contacting the hair being dried with at least one glove comprising material selected from the following: (a) a hydrophilic micro fibre material selected from the group comprising 100% polyester monofilament DTY 150/228.
 6. A method of drying and styling hair comprising grasping the wetted hair on a human head with at least one glove worn on the hand of the person drying the wetted hair and repeatedly contacting it with at least one glove until it is saturated and reversing said glove so that the saturated side now is located on the back of the hand, and the dry side of said glove is now on the front of said hand.
 7. A glove for drying and styling hair which comprises two pieces of hand shaped material joined together at the edge thereof so as to form a glove, said material being made from 100% polyester filament DTY 150/288
 8. A material as claimed in claim 6 in which said material is hydrophilic and is not oleophilic.
 9. A glove as claimed in claims 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 which contains no lining or other shielding material to protect the hand of the user from the material forming the water absorbent material used to dry the hair. 